Montreal Canadiens

[newfcollins]

I'm concerned the Habs brass is looking at this team and will chalk up this whole season to injuries (Price, Weber, Shaw, etc.). That's a dangerous mode of thinking with this squad.

[ericdaoust]

Things are different this time. There are more missing pieces than last time when Price was injured the whole year. There will be some selling, well at least the expiring deals.

The team has been operating most of the year with two centers. Since Danault went down just one. The others are AHLers or wingers trying to make the transition.

[Fighting_Emu]

Do you guys think Gallagher has it in him to be a l;ate blooming topline player? Or is that just not his game??

Bonus points: is Lehkonen awake finally??

[Jouko-Pouko]

Bonus points: is Lehkonen awake finally??

The real question is, is he finally healthy? I think and hope he is but he definitely wasn't earlier this season.

- - - Updated - - -

Bonus points: is Lehkonen awake finally??

The real question is, is he finally healthy? I think and hope he is but he definitely wasn't earlier this season.

[evans334]

Do you guys think Gallagher has it in him to be a l;ate blooming topline player? Or is that just not his game??

Bonus points: is Lehkonen awake finally??

Yes and yes, IMO.

Gallagher works hard and gets into the scoring areas, but he pays a price for doing so.
He's a top-6 complimentary winger.

Lehkonen is suffering the stereotypical sophomore slump and playing on a broken confused team.

[ericdaoust]

For both players it depends on the environment. The one they are in currently does not facilitate offensive production.

[ericdaoust]

Former Habs players at the Olympics:

https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/m...ng/c-295921712

[rufio.85]

I think that Gallagher can be a very effective second-liner, who can sometimes plug on the first-line.
But I suspect we've seen the best he can bring already. He doesn't have an extra gear imo.

Lehkonen has an excellent shot... too early to tell exactly but he has top-6 upside imo.
He just won't become an elite winger. In fact, if Patches is traded, I don't see any elite winger on that squad... except maybe Drouin if the Habs can finally get a number 1 center.

[ericdaoust]

Gallagher has been an effective top-line RW before. He just tends to lag behind his linemates offensively because he's always in front of the net. A lot of shots go in without touching him. Nothing wrong with this, it just doesn't lead to eye-popping numbers.

[ericdaoust]

Lindgren signs three-year, one-way extension. He should be the backup next year.

[Zorro]

Is Pacioretty getting traded this month??

[ericdaoust]

Is Pacioretty getting traded this month??

Flip a coin. Heads = it happens this month, tails = it happens closer to the draft.

I don't read trade rumors much anymore because most of it is pure speculation and not backed by anything. Someone else might have a better scoop on what's actually happening here.

[evans334]

I really thought Pleks would have been a good fit in LA, but I guess now that they've acquired Thompson there's no longer a fit.

[ericdaoust]

Bergevin will trade Plek to himself thinking he just improved the team's C depth

[evans334]

Bergevin will trade Plek to himself thinking he just improved the team's C depth

that made me laugh too much